The Institution has two Temperance Societies and a Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. The inmates have a dramatic society and give entertainments of a high order. Friends of the institution give concerts and lectures in the chapel. They have a good brass band, and the grounds are a frequent resort in the summer season, for picnic parties, not only from the city, but from near and remote parts of the State on the lines of railroads. Billiards, croquet, chess, and other innocent games of skill and chance, are provided for all. Furloughs are granted for from one to ten days, and if an inmate recovers his health, or qualifies himself to earn a livelihood, he is honorably discharged. RELIGIOUS SERVICES Are held by the Chaplain, who is a Protestant. Catholic service is also held by the priests from the city and the vicinity whenever they desire, or it is desired by the inmates of that faith. The funeral service is said by either Protestant or Catholic clergy, as the deceased may have expressed his wishes, or according to his religious faith. HOW SUPported. The fund for the support of the Asyium is derived from the forfeited pay, bounty and pensions of deserters and dishonorably discharged soldiers. Vast contributions to it have been made by the forfeitures of bounty jumpers. It now amounts to nearly $4,000,000, and the income derived from it is nearly sufficient for the support of these various Branches. The expenditures of the Northwestern Branch average nearly $100,000 annually. THE GOVERNOR OF THE ASYLUM. The office of Governor of the Asylum (Northwestern Branch) has been held for a few years past by Gen. JOHN WOOLLEY, of the regular army, who has been a kind and faithful guardian of the nation's wards confided to his care, and has managed the business and administrative departments of the institution with signal ability. A change was ordered at the general meeting of the managers recently, in Washington, by which Gen. E. W. HINKS, heretofore in charge of the Branch at Hampton, Va., has been transferred to this Branch, and Gen. WOOLLEY has been assigned to other duty. SUGGESTIONS. This is not a charity, and the disabled soldiers of the country should understand it. The money that supports this Institution has been forfeited by bad soldiers, and has been made by the law of Congress the absolute property of the disabled soldiers of the country. They do not place themselves in the list of paupers by becoming inmates of the Asylum. Whenever a soldier of the war is temporarily or permanently disabled to support himself in consequence of wounds or disease contracted in the service, by so becoming disabled, he acquires an interest in this property, to the benefit of which he is entitled. No disabled soldier should avoid this home from an apprehen sion that the enjoyment of its comforts is disreputable, or places him in the ranks of the occupants of the alms-houses. It is not humiliating to accept the protection of this excellent Institution, which was established as a mon ument of the Nation's gratitude, and as a payment of the part of the debt it owes to its preservers. |